THE Health Ministry will allocate RM3.4 billion to create permanent positions for medical, dental and pharmaceutical officers between 2022 and 2025, Deputy Health Minister II Aaron Ago Dagang told Parliament today. He said it is estimated that 11,296 permanent positions will be created through this allocation. 

“The implementation of this decision involves an initial financial injection of RM337.5 million per annum in 2022.

“The financial implications for the purpose of paying emoluments to these officers will continue to increase over the period of 2023 to 2025, which is RM1.2 billion,” the deputy minister said. 

Aaron said 4,186 permanent positions have been offered as of June, consisting of 3,586 medical, 300 dental, and 300 pharmaceutical officers.

He was responding to Noor Amin Ahmad’s (PH-Kangar) inquiry on the total amount spent by the Health Ministry in absorbing medical staff. 

Aaron added that the total number of permanent recruitments is 460 dentists and 400 pharmacists following previous vacancies by dental and pharmaceutical officers. 

“The government has also agreed to create at least 1,500 permanent positions for medical, dental and pharmacy officers under the Health Ministry from 2023 to 2025.

“The estimated financial implications for the purpose of paying emoluments is RM744.5 million for that period,” he said.

Concurrently, the government has decided to create new permanent positions for 800 medical and 70 dental officers each year from 2023 to 2025 to cater for permanent medical specialist output at the Health Ministry’s facility.

“This will involve financial implication of RM1.1 billion for the estimation of three years,” he said. 

Putrajaya’s absorption of medical professionals comes as the latest development since the issue of contract medical officers generated much public attention last year in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, culminating in the Hartal Doktor Kontrak movement. 

Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin announced on January 15 that contract doctors are qualified to apply for specialist training, organised under the Hadiah Latihan Persekutuan sponsorship starting January 28, which will enable them to obtain a master’s degree, Area of Special Interest (AOSI), or PhD. – March 17, 2022.